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Vice President Mike Pence delivers remarks at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL. He announced that the Trump administration is set to release its final plan for a new Space Force in the coming days.
"In the days ahead, President Trump will also sign a new space policy directive that will lay out our plans and our timeline to create the new sixth branch of the armed forces, the U.S. Space Force," Pence said.
VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE: Thank you, Madam Secretary. (Applause.) Yeah, great words. Great words. Well, thank you, Secretary Wilson. Thank you for that introduction and thank you for your great leadership of the United States Air Force.
And I want to thank our host today, the Kennedy Space Center, Bob Cabana, and the entire team. To General Selva, who joins us here today; to all of our distinguished guests; to General Shess; but especially to the airmen of the 45th Space Wing and your families, it is great to be here at the Kennedy Space Center, the "World's Premier Gateway to Space." (Applause.) Thank you all.
And I want to bring greetings this morning, first and foremost, to a great champion of American leadership in space and a great champion of America's military personnel and your families. I want to bring greetings from the 45th President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump. (Applause.)
Well, nobody said space is easy, right? General Shess walked up to me a few minutes ago and I think he was worried I was going to be disappointed. But I told him, "This isn't my first rodeo." I attended my first launch here at the Kennedy Space Center about 15 years ago. And the most important thing -- most important thing is that we get that rocket up safely and securely, and achieves its mission.
You know, the truth of the matter is that the progress that we've made and the leadership America has provided in space is a result of careful, methodical, cutting-edge work of the people that are gathered here and the decisions that were even made here today.
And so, let me just take a moment to congratulate in advance, not only our host here at the Kennedy Space Center, but NASA; the Air Force; our great industry partners, SpaceX, Lockheed Martin. I know this bird is going to fly and when it flies it's going to make a difference for the security and prosperity of the American people. Job well done. (Applause.)
So thank you all for being here today. Despite this delay, I wanted to take the opportunity, nonetheless, to make a very important announcement about American leadership in space, and the opportunity to do that among the airmen here of the 45th is a great honor for me. And it's a fitting place to do just that, and I'm grateful for your attendance and your participation here today.
Since the -- even before this administration began, I can assure you that space was a priority of this President and of his Vice President. You know, I grew up -- I was a little boy in the 1960s and I remember going down in our basement watching on our black-and-white television as America marveled the world with our leadership in space.
Nearly a half a century has passed since those days and America continues to lead in space. But I'm here to tell you today, from the first days of this administration, when President Trump restarted the National Space Council, to the investments that we've made in NASA, to the leadership on national security in space, a new era of American leadership in space has begun. (Applause.)
And so much of it will take place here on the Space Coast, where all three sectors of America's space enterprise take flight: civil, commercial, and national security. And the National Space Council, I want to assure you, is working to bring together all elements of American leadership in space. And I'm grateful to have members of our User Advisory Committee and members of the National Space Council present with us today.
And I'm pleased to report to my fellow Americans that under President Trump's leadership we've given renewed resources and strategic focus to trailblazers here at NASA. We've forged new partnerships with pioneering companies like those involved in the rocket that sits on the launchpad today. We're investing in tools and capabilities that our armed forces need to protect our nation from the commanding heights of space. And that of course is what the 45th Space Wing has always done.
You know, the Space Coast is best known for the Apollo and space shuttles from the Kennedy Space Center. But you all know well that, for more than seven decades, the 45th Space Wing and your predecessors have made America the dominant power in the depths of space and we are proud of each and every one of the airmen gathered here today. Thank you for your service. (Applause.)
I know your motto is that "Control of the Battlefield Begins Here." And I want to assure you that your Commander-in-Chief understands that, his number two understands that, and we're going to continue to provide the 45th with the resources to accomplish your mission in the days ahead.
I want you to know you have no greater champion than President Donald Trump. I'm proud to say that, from the outset of this administration, this President has actually worked with leaders in both parties in the Congress, and he's signed into law the largest increase in our national defense since the days of Ronald Reagan. We are rebuilding our military and restoring the arsenal of democracy. (Applause.)
And it has been a bipartisan effort. And the President and I are grateful of leaders in both parties that have supported his efforts in providing our warfighters with the resources, the training that you and your families need and deserve.
I do want to acknowledge one member of Congress who is with us today from the great state of Illinois, Congressman Randy Hultgren. Thanks for your great support of our military and your great support of this administration's agenda. It's an honor to have you here today. (Applause.)
But there's perhaps no greater sign of this President's commitment to all of you gathered here today, and your mission, than the President's vision to stand up the United States Space Force. As the President said, and as you all well know, space is, in his words, "a warfighting domain." And the truth is, for years, foreign nations have been developing electronic weapons to jam, blind, and disable satellites just like the one that waits on that launchpad today.
China has tested missiles designed to destroy satellites. China and Russia are working to station new weapons directly in space and, frankly, these new challenges demand new and innovative responses. And that's precisely what we've been providing under President Trump's leadership. Under his leadership, the United States is taking steps to ensure that American national security is as dominant in space as it is here on Earth.
And to that end, it is my privilege to announce that today, President Trump will direct the Department of Defense to establish a combatant command that will oversee all our military activities in space. (Applause.)
This Space Command will be the 11th Combatant Command in the U.S. military joining the Indo-Pacific Command, the European Command, but also it will serve alongside other -- what are known as functional commands, like Strategic Command, and Special Operations Command. And it will be led by a four-star flag officer.
It will establish unified control over all our military space operations. The American people will be glad to know that today, there are more than 18,000 military and civilian personnel working in space operations for our national security all across the Department of Defense. And at President Trump's direction, the U.S. Space Command will integrate space capabilities across all branches of the military. It will develop the space doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures that will enable our warfighters to defend our nation in this new era.
And I say with great pride, it's an honor for me to announce the establishment of the U.S. Space Command here at the Kennedy Space Center, among all of these great airmen. A new era of American national security in space begins today. (Applause.)
But it won't end there. In the days ahead, President Trump will also sign a new space policy directive that will lay out our plans and our timeline to create the new sixth branch of the armed forces, the U.S. Space Force. (Applause.)
We're working as we speak with leaders in both parties in Congress to stand up the United States Space Force before the end of 2020.
You know, the Air Force has been a magnificent steward of our military space capabilities, and they prove that every single day. Each and every one of you do. And I want to promise you that we're going to build on that foundation. We're going to build on that foundation together with space professionals from every branch.
And while we're taking these actions to ensure our nation's security and our future, we'll be following the very best traditions of the past. We'll be building on a foundation of American innovation, of the courage of our armed forces, and we'll also be building on the timeless foundation of faith of the American people -- faith in the capacity of our people to accomplish anything in the defense of and the advance of freedom. And we'll also do it with that other kind of faith as well.
You know, it's remarkable to think 50 years ago this month, two Air Force pilots and a naval aviator blasted off from this very cape, with a rendezvous with history.
On that fateful mission, Bill Anders, Jim Lovell, Frank Borman, went further than any human being had ever gone before. They rounded our lunar surface, and on Christmas Eve 1968 -- you might remember the story -- those of you with hair the same color as mine. It was an amazing moment.
The men of Apollo 8 gazed across the gray surface of the moon and they watched that glorious blue and green orb rise on the horizon of the moon. The first time anyone in the human family had ever seen an Earthrise before. And they were inspired.
And as they saw that Earthrise, the astronauts of Apollo 8 spoke back to the world timeless words that are cherished in the faith tradition of tens of millions of Americans and people around the world. And I looked at that transcript when I was visiting NASA just a few short days ago.
And as this special season of the year approaches for the American people, it's a joy for me to recall those words. They said from Apollo 11[8], quote, "Now approaching the lunar sunrise... for all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you." That "In the beginning, God created the Heaven and the Earth. And the Earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face..." of the Earth. "And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light.' And there was light."
As each one of you in this space enterprise in America -- military and civilian -- do your work, as you continue to renew American leadership in space, I urge you to do so on behalf of your Commander-in-Chief, with your very best efforts, with renewed energy, with ingenuity, with professionalism, and with innovation.
But I also urge you to do your work with faith, if you're of a mind. That as your keep our country safe, know that you also carry the faith and aspirations of the American people, tens of millions of which every day look to the heavens and see His hand and long to understand it better.
In this season of giving, this team has worked hard to give the American people a great gift. And I have every confidence that it will be aloft very soon. Because of all of your efforts, very soon, America will be more secure, and the American people will be more inspired.
So thank you for your service. Thank you to all the members of our military that worked to make this possible -- all the members of the 45th Space Wing. And thanks to the leadership of the Air Force gathered here today. Thanks to our great industry partners who have worked with us to bring us to this point.
And on behalf of President Trump, let me just say thank you all for this great collaboration for the American people. And I say in advance, of what I know will be a great and successful launch, congratulations and Merry Christmas. Thank you all. (Applause.)

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan speaks with CNN's Julia Chatterley about recent stock market volatility, interest rates, and stagflation.
JULIA CHATTERLY, CNN: Do you think we are still in a bull market -- an equity bull market?
ALAN GREENSPAN: Not really, no, it is beginning to fumble.
You can see it by the reaction in recent days. It would be very surprising to see it sort of stabilize and take off again. But it has happened in the past. However, at the end of that run, run for cover.

At Tuesday's WH press briefing, press secretary Sarah Sanders said the president has directed every government agency to search for funds that can be used to pay for border security.
The president's insistence that Congress fund $5 billion of wall construction has been responsible for concerns that there might be a partial government shutdown on Friday.
QUESTION: Can you clarify the current White House position towards the continuing resolution that is floating up on the Hill? Is it a demand for 1.6 billion dollars in border wall funding, or supporting a continuing resolution to take this matter up after the Christmas break?
SARAH SANDERS: At this point, the Senate has thrown out a lot of ideas. We are disappointed they have yet to vote on something and pass something. When they do that, we will make a determination on whether or not we sign it.
In the meantime, we're looking at every avenue available to us possible. The president has asked every one of his cabinet secretaries to look for funding that can be used to protect our borders and give the president the ability to fulfill his constitutional obligation to protect the American people by having a secure border. We're looking at other options. In the meantime, we will see what the Senate does and let you know when we have an announcement on that front.
QUESTION: There are other sources that could potentially pay for the wall. Which agencies are you talking about, you mentioned DoD--?
SANDERS: As I said, the president has asked every agency to look and see if they have money that can be used for that purpose. That is exactly what we are doing.
QUESTION: And if they can they find that money, does that mean the president would accept a budget that does not include any money to fund the border wall?
SANDERS: Once again, we want to see what the Senate can pass. They've thrown out a lot of ideas and have yet to take a vote. Once they make a decision and they put something on the table, we will make the determination whether or not we will move forward on short-term or long-term.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders answered questions about the postponed sentencing of former national security advisor Mike Flynn, her comments regarding border wall funding, and the president's comments about the Federal Reserve in Tuesday's White House press briefing.

On MSNBC's 'Morning Joe,' historian John Meacham compared the current investigation into President Trump and Russian collusion in the 2016 election with President Nixon and the Watergate break in.
JOHN MEACHAM: If, in fact, Donald Trump knew about the Russian efforts on his behalf, then there's a live question about whether he gave, he has been giving aide and comfort to the enemy, which is the definition of treason in the Constitution. So this just isn't who wins the week, who loses the week conversation. This is a constitutional crisis because it's quite possible that the president of the United States right now is a witting or at least partially witting agent of a foreign power. I say that with great care but that's a possibility, and I think that we have to somewhat tap the brakes on our ordinary assessment of things and realize that this is possibly the biggest kind of question we could confront as a democracy.

The White House suggested Tuesday that President Trump might back down from his demand for $5 billion in wall funding. Trump's insistence on the funding request has raised the possibility of a partial government shutdown at the end of the week.
"We have other ways that we can get to that $5 billion that we'll work with Congress," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Fox News on Tuesday morning.
"There are certainly a number of different funding sources that we can identify and use that we can couple with the money that would be given through Congressional appropriations that would help us get to that $5 billion that the president needs to protect our borders," Sanders said.
We have been in continuous and will continue to have these conversations with both Senate and House Republicans and Democrats. Our team has been in constant communication, we're continued to do that. I'm not going to negotiate here but we've been talking to them even as late as this â just as recently as this morning. Those conversations continue, the President has been clear Bill about what the parameters are, that he wants to see in the legislation and we hope Democrats will not play games and support legislation, frankly that they supported in the past.
We would take â we have other ways that we can get to the $5 billion that we will work with Congress, if they will make sure that we get a bill passed that provide, not just the funding for the wall but there's a piece of legislation that's been pushed around that Democrats actually voted 26 to five out of committee that provides 26, roughly $26 billion in border security, including $1.6 billion for the wall. That's something that we would be able to support as long as we can couple that with other funding resources that would help us get to the $5 billion.

Monday on Fox Business Network's 'Lou Dobbs Tonight,' White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway said "there's a much better chance of getting a deal than not" when it comes to a possible partial government shutdown over border security.
"The president wants to keep the government open, he just doesn't want the borders to remain open the way they are," she said. "He wants there to be full funding for the government, but that funding must include adequate funding for border security."
KELLYANNE CONWAY: Well, with the ultimate dealmaker in the Oval Office, Lou, I believe that there's a much better chance of getting a deal than not. But look, the president wants to keep the government open, he just doesn't want the borders to remain open the way they are. He wants there to be full funding for the government, but that funding must include adequate funding for border security.
I don't know if he can be any more clear on this issue, and I don't know if we can see any more excerpts from Democrats who voted for the Secure Fence Act in 2006, including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, and the whole lot of them.

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer reacts to former FBI director James Comey's comments blasting Republicans and President Trump for defending Michael Flynn.
"I think he is continuing to deflect from the fact that he was fired for not doing a job," Spicer said of Comey. "There are a lot of questions regarding Director Comey's actions, particularly his handling of Hillary Clinton and her email scandal. And he's clearly trying to deflect from his failure to do his job properly."

Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein lamented on CNN Tuesday morning that the President of the United States acts more like a "common grifter" and a "con man" than anything else.
"I looked up the definition of grifter the other day in the dictionary, and it seems to suit Donald Trump perfectly in terms of the way he has conducted himself all his life, but including, astonishingly enough, in his presidency," Bernstein said.
CARL BERNSTEIN: We've never seen a President of the United States who actually acts more in some ways like a common grifter. I looked up the definition of grifter the other day in the dictionary, and it seems to suit Donald Trump perfectly in terms of the way he has conducted himself all his life, but including, astonishingly enough, in his presidency.
The idea of being a grifter while at the same time being President of the United States, a flim-flam artist, a con man, someone who lies, somebody who uses instruments at his command to obtain and do things that are untoward and underhanded.

FOX News Channel judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano and host Shep Smith talk about the worst-case scenario for President Trump with regard to conspiracy charges related to Michael Cohen paying women for silence.
SHEP SMITH: You say as you always do that collusion isn't a crime. Conspiracy is a crime, but a minute ago you said there is already a conspiracy and it involves the president.
ANDREW NAPOLITANO: That's what Judge Paley said last week when he sentenced Michael Cohen. I don't know that he used the word conspiracy.
SMITH: Just so our viewers understand this is not speculation, this is from the writing of the court.
NAPOLITANO: The trial judge said verbally: the president of the U.S. orchestrated and paid for this crime, referring to the crime for which Michael Cohen was pleading guilty.
SMITH: That is by definition a conspiracy?
NAPOLITANO: Yes, the conspiracy would be the three of them in a room. Michael Cohen, David Pecker, and Donald Trump. Now, the president has denied this. Pecker and Cohen have said it happened this way. The president said either I wasn't there or I don't remember or I didn't hear, but it didn't happen. Rudy Giuliani says it didn't happen.
SMITH: So at some point, a higher authority of some kind would make a determination on such a matter.
NAPOLITANO: Yes, and the president does not want that to be a jury of the Senate or a jury of his peers.
SMITH: Why not?
NAPOLITANO: I don't think he wants to get to that point. That would be doomsday. That would mean there is enough evidence to indict and try or enough evidence to impeach.

Rep. Ryan Costello, a Republican who is leaving Congress next month, speaks out against the "cult of personality" around President Trump on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe'
REP. RYAN COSTELLO: I think in 2016, all of us running had the ability to separate ourselves from the president a little bit. We had our own identity. In 2018, I think most voters who went to the polls were either voting in support of the president's agenda and we saw that in Missouri and North Dakota and Indiana, or they were voting against the president.
And so in a lot of suburban districts and House races, my colleagues got wiped out on account of the fact that we've become the party of Trump and I think moving forward it's going to be extremely important that we plan for the day when President Trump is no longer president, whenever that is, because we cannot allow some of the more caustic remarks and ridiculous tweets to define us as a party. We're a party that believes in limited government, free market principles. I think those ideas are being lost in this cult of personality era that we're in.

Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin comments on the bind President Trump is in when it comes to paying for the border wall:
JENNIFER RUBIN, WASHINGTON POST: The American people recoil from this idea of a wall. As a practical matter, it makes very little sense. It puts us at odds with Mexico whose cooperation we need. It diverts resources. And it sometimes makes for more illegal aliens, because those who are casual travelers back and forth across the barrier get caught in the United States.
I think this is absolutely critical. The Republicans are operating in their own little world here on this and so many other issues. What's popular with the base, 80%, 90% of the base, is very unpopular with America, whether you look at climate change, whether you look at the wall, whether you look at a whole slew of issues. Republicans are in their own little world. So Donald Trump, who goes out and loves the applause of the crowd, goes out to red states and gets lots of applause says the people are with us.
The people are the entire United States. He may not have governed that way that's the reality. Now he has a Democratic Congress and he has a Senate that's kind of all over the map. So he's not going to get this.
Donald Trump, his entire life has gotten through with his salesmanship and never really having to deliver. Now he's caught. There's no bankruptcy he can run out of town with casinos. He can't simply close down the vodka or the steak line. He's got to sit there and deal with the fact he has not delivered. So, I think he's caught. I don't think he particularly has a game plan. He's just waiting for Congress to figure out how to get him out of this.

FNC's Tucker Carlson reviews Democratic claims that a border wall is too expensive and immoral:
TUCKER CARLSON: The estimated cost of a border wall is about $25 billion. That is estimated so let's say it is twice that. That is still a tiny fraction of the price of the pointless stalemate we're now waging in Afghanistan. That costs about $45 billion every year, not including the human cost. Compare that to $25 billion needed to restore sovereignty with the wall.
And yet this is strange, nobody in Washington seems to be upset about the price of the Afghanistan debacle. A lot of people here are getting rich on it and maybe that is the difference. You also hear endlessly, usually from people who live in gated communities, that walls just don't work.
But if that is true, why is Congress happy to pay for border barriers in Jordan, Tunisia, and Israel?
Nancy Pelosi says that walls are immoral, but for some reason, she is not flying to Jerusalem to lecture the Israelis about how they are wasting U.S. aid building walls that don't work. Israelis know how effective walls are, that is why they have them. Israel's wall on the Egyptian border almost completely halted illegal immigration from that country. In fact, by some measures, not one person came over once they made it taller. It turns out there is a limit to the height of ladders.
The truth, as you know and as usual, if precisely the opposite of what they're telling you.
The left fears a border wall precisely because it would work, and could keep working long after President Trump leaves office. That is why, when pressed, invariably they fall back on their signature argument: racism! Border walls are racist!
It is just projection. Look around, who is angry, who is yelling, who is hysterical? The left. Permanent Washington and their servants in the media. They're the ones who are terrified. They don't want a real debate about immigration or a lot of other mindless policies they have been benefiting from for many years. They hate Trump for forcing a debate on immigration and they hate you for agreeing with him.

Chinese president Xi Jinping said China will "stay the course" on its current path of reform and that no other nation is in a position to "dictate to the Chinese people what should or should not be done."
From his speech to mark the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on December 17:
XI: No one is in a position to dictate to the Chinese people what should or should not be done...
What to reform and how to go about the reform must be consistent with the overarching goal of improving and developing the system of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and modernizing China's system and capacity for governance. We will resolutely reform what should and can be reformed, and make no change where there should and cannot be any reform.

Daniel Henninger, the deputy editorial page director of 'The Wall Street Journal,' said the prosecution of Michael Flynn was used as a path to persecute President Donald Trump.
"It looks here as though Flynn's defenses are incidental to something larger which is for the prosecution to figure out whether they can find a path to Donald Trump without quite knowing what that crime might be. Past some point it stops looking like prosecution and more like a persecution," Henninger said on this weekend's broadcast of FNC's 'The Journal Editorial Report.'

Former FBI director James Comey called President Trump a liar and accused him of undermining the law in a media availability Monday following his second closed-door congressional interview. Comey excoriated Trump and "his acolytes" for hurting the reputation of the FBI. The former G-man called the damage to the bureau's reputation a "tragedy" and that none of the blame resides with him.
"Director Comey, the FBI's reputation has taken a big hit over the last year. Do you share any of the responsibility for that?" the reporter asked.
"No," Comey responded. "The FBI's reputation has taken a big hit because the President of the United States, with his acolytes, has lied about it constantly and, in the face of those lies, a whole lot of good people who watch your network believe that nonsense. That's a tragedy."
"That will be undone eventually but that damage has nothing to do with me," he added.
Comey said Congressional Republicans had "everlasting shame" and that he hoped one day they will realize that when they have to explain to their grandchildren what they put him through.
"To my view, to their everlasting shame, I hope they'll overcome that and realize some day they got to explain to their grandchildren what they did today," Comey said.
"I'm very proud of the way the FBI conducted itself," he said. "Agile, flexible, thoughtful, pursued the lead where you'd want us to."
QUESTION: Director Comey, the FBI's reputation has taken a big hit over the last year. Do you share any of the responsibility for that?
COMEY: No. The FBI's reputation has taken a big hit because the President of the United States, with his acolytes, has lied about it constantly and, in the face of those lies, a whole lot of good people who watch your network believe that nonsense. That's a tragedy. That will be undone eventually but that damage has nothing to do with me...
QUESTION: Director Comey, what can be done to fix it? About the -- the way the public is seeing the FBI, what the president's saying?
COMEY: People who know better, including Republican members of this body, have to have the courage to stand up and speak the truth. Not be cowed by mean tweets or fear of their base. There is a truth and they're not telling it. Their silence is shameful.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Of the Republicans who are remaining in the House next session do you see taking that mantle? Coming up and defending the FBI, taking on the president?
COMEY: Not yet. To -- to my view, to their everlasting shame, I hope they'll overcome that and realize some day they got to explain to their grandchildren what they did today.

Fired FBI director James Comey speaks after a second day of closed-door testimony on Capitol Hill. Comey was asked about the bureau's handling of the Russia probe and the Clinton email case.
"Think of what has happened in the Republican Party," Comey said about the Michael
Flynn matter. "They are up here attacking the FBI's investigation of a guy who pled guilty to lying to the FBI. He should have been warned you shouldn't lie, he should have been told he could have a lawyer. Think of the state of affairs we've ended up in, that is nonsense."
"I'm very proud of the FBI," Comey said.